twitches and tremor, ALS possible?

[catachip]

In the beginning of September I started to notice a tremor in thumb when in certain positions, this also occurs in the other fingers now. No tremor occurs at rest.This was combined with some pain and prickling-feeling stiffness in the fingers, this has since gone away. A week later noticed muscle fasciculations all over, mostly in my calves, thigh, feet, side of hips, buttocks, but also in my arm and neck. I feel like there is sometimes pain in my tendons and forearms, back of thigh.

A week or so after that I started to notice a shaky, ratcheting, cogwheeling, vibrating, etc. sensation in my muscles when I drop my arms and legs down from a raised position, when I rotate my wrists and ankles and when I nod my head up and down. All of the effects are symmetrical. They are described perfectly (and nearly identically) in this forum post ( http://www.medhelp.org/forums/mentalhealth/messages/33108.html ) although no one has posted to it in a long time.

One month after onset of symptoms I have had a clean MRI, normal electrolytes, normal Nerve conduction and EMG,normal Lyme panel. I am having a heavy metal and copper (Wilson's test) now. I will have a lumbar puncture in a few weeks.

What do you all think. My neurologist seems to be stumped. The fascinations combined with these other bizarre symptoms have me concerned. Does this sound at all like ALS? I would really appreciate some input.

[daycaretrouble]

I have a hospice patient with the dx of ALS.  He was diagnosed 2 years ago and was in very poor physical health at time of his dx.    He was sent back to his primary md with recommendation of hospice.  He has been on traditonal Home Health until the Last six months I have started seeing him for hospice.  your story and his are very similar with except the nerve conduction/emg results.  I am happy to tell you that this man is being discharged from hospice because over the past 2 years he has continued to improve (which does not happen w/ als_)  He is going for further diagnostic testing.   There are so many neuromuscular disorders that mimick als.  you might look into the diagnosis called MMN I think.  I dont know what it stands for but you can google neuromuscular disorders and MMN.  it is very interesting

[cortex_toom]

hi people, i have read about als, i think i have als, but i  don't want to admit that it is a deadly desease, i don't want to die, i feel bad when i read each time that this desease is a death sentence. Six months ago , i had a widespread pain all of a sudden in the muscles, i went for blood work to have leukemia ruled out, which at that time it was bothering me since i was hearing from a collegue wife , that her sister had pain in her muscles she went to the doctor and was DX with leukemia and died after 7 days of being diagnosed and i had my auntie died like that too, but the test was negative for leukemia and i breathed a sight of relief however now comes the thought of als, the pain i was feeling in my joints six months ago and later i developed tingling and burning/pricking sensations, the joints are my tender points if i lift something i get excrutiating pain, i went to a neuro, (with 6 motnhs symptoms) and he tested me for the reflexes, he said i have no weakness, usually neuro test for weaknesses in the arms and legs and tests your pupil (for possible brain tumor); but now i feel heavyness in my shoulders, symptoms have been getting worse with some periods of remission (days when i don't feel any symptoms) at rest i feel relieved from the pain (when i'm asleep) and i wake up refreshed the next morning and symptoms worsen during the day, although i have this heavy feeling in my arms i don't feel like dropping obejcts from my hand although sometimes i find it slightly irritating to type..if i lift something i hurt all over like shocks in the extremities... is a stiff shoulder with burning pains a sign of als?

[NovaPat]

Just curious how you are doing now.  I'm having similar tremors when I reach for the keys while typing, although mine are more in my little finger and ring finger and also have fasciculations.

[chochmeh]

Got to love all that twitching going on out there...makes me wonder if all the plastic we use/consume isn't killing us all...more like dystonia to me...not ALS...sounds like the neuro is doing all the right things...did they do a thyroid panel/ ANA/ metabolic muscle tests on you yet?  If not, definitely include them in...